- Friday October 25, 2023, 6 pm
- Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs
- Featuring ???
- Space is limited so please register early
Registration Form & Menu:
Annual Dinner Form / Menu
At the annual meeting, chapter members will be invited to vote for the new officers.
The current nominations are:
- Chapter Chair - Kim Brown
- 1st Vice Chair - Laura Fiske
- 2nd Vice Chair - Jess Krause
- Treasurer - Steve Mackey
- Secretary - John Caffry
- Members at Large - Jeff Mans, Kathi Noble, One position vacant
- Trustee - Maureen Coutant
- Alternate Trustee - Vacent
In the event that there is more than one candidate for any given office, at the annual
meeting, the Secretary shall furnish a ballot containing the names of all nominees,
arranged in alphabetical order, as candidates for each office.
This ballot shall be the exclusive means of voting for officers, members-at-large,
trustee and alternate trustee. The successful candidate for each position shall be
determined by a simple majority of the votes cast.
Additional nominations; in writing, and particularly for the vacant one Member-At Large
& Alternate Trustee positions, may be submitted by any member entitled to vote to
Pat Desbiens, chair of the Nominating Committee, by close of business,
October 1, 2024.
Such nominations must be signed by no fewer than twelve (12) voting members.
Send additional nominations to:
Glens Falls/Saratoga Chapter,
Adirondack Mountain Club,
PO Box 2314, Glens Falls, NY 12801,
Attn: Nominating Committee - Pat Desbiens
See these biographies of the nominees:
KIM BROWN
I have been a member of the ADK Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter since 2012. Over the years I have
been fortunate to make new friends and learn from many who have taken the time to share their
outdoor experiences with me. Looking to give back, I became more actively involved with our
Chapter upon my retirement in 2018. Currently I serve as Chapter Chair. I have served as
both Education Chair and First Vice Chair. I am also a hike leader. I enjoy volunteering
as a trail and summit steward so that others can learn to enjoy the outdoors safely and with
care for the environment.
LAURA FISKE I have been a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club since the early 2000s
and began my leadereship career with the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter. For the past several
years I have been on the ADK Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
My current term expires at the end of calendar year 2023 and I am seeking to return to
the chapter as your first vice chair. My years of experience with the leadership of the
ADK will enable me to provide background and context for many of the changes implemented
or being implemented by the ADK. Professionally, my background is in finance/budgeting
and management. These skills and my prior chapter and ADK experience will enable me to be
an effective first vice chair. In my leisure time I enjoy hiking, cycling and recently
purchased a pack canoe so paddling is my next adventure.
JOHN CAFFRY I have been an ADK member since 1985 and have served the Club in many capacities,
such as member of the Chapter Executive Committee since 1987; former Chapter Publicity Chair
and Second Vice Chair; Chapter Secretary from 2006 to 2015, and starting again in 2018;
Chapter Chair from 2016 to 2017; former member of ADK Board of Directors and Executive Committee;
former chair of ADK Headquarters Committee; and former chair of the ADK Conservation Committee;
and participated in the Adopt-a-Lean-to program for 10 years. Occasionally, I find time for
hiking, paddling and all varieties of skiing.
JESSICA KRAUSE (Jess) I live in Saratoga Springs with my fiance, Will DeMuth. I am originally
from a small town in western New York and spent most of my 20s in New York City. Once able
to work remotely, we chose to live closer to the Adirondacks and have not looked back!
Professionally, I am part of the business strategy team for a health technology company called
League and hold a B.S. in Economics from Cornell. We spend every weekend that we can hiking
the 3-6-9ers, 12sters, 46ers or simply backpacking out to enjoy a quiet lake. I am excited to
volunteer for the 2nd vice chair position to learn from those around me, share my time and
experience, and set the foundation to become more actively involved in the future.
MAUREEN COUTANT I have been an active member of ADK Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter since the
early 1990s. I have led hikes, chaired the nominating committee, served in the Vice Chair positions
and as the Chapter Chair twice. Currently I help out the Banff Film Festival Committee to bring
the festival to the Glens Falls area every February. I have helped with other nonprofits and know
that it is hard to find voluntweers, so I am always willing to help when I can.
KATHI NOBLE I have been a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) for many years,
becoming involved with the Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter in 2011 when my husband and I took over
as the ADK Fire Tower Challenge correspondents. I have served in the past as the chapter's
chair person and secretary. I retired in 2014 after 34 years of teaching special education.
I fill my days hiking, biking, skiing, paddling and many other outdoor activities. I also volunteer
as a ski instructor at the Double H Winter Adaptive Ski Program and as a trailhead steward at HPIC.
JEFF MANS My first Adirondack adventure was a canoe and camping trip from Old Forge to Blue Mountain
Lake along the Fulton Chain of Lakes in my teens, and I was smitten by the beauty of the Adirondacks.
After graduating from Albany Law School, I settled in the Albany area and began my longterm relationship
with the Adirondacks, becoming a 46er in 2006, and more recently a winter 46er.
During this time I had the good fortune of meeting and joining members of the ADK Glens Falls-Saratoga
chapter on outings that introduced me to a variety of activities and like minded individuals. I have
been an ADK member for a number of years, and became an Outings Leader in 2019, and since that time
have continued to regularly lead outings to explore, camp and hike the Adirondacks year-round. My initial
sense of wonder, enthusiasm, and inspiration are still present today each time I enter the Adirondacks
to experience the land I love best.
STEVE MACKEY I have been an active member with the ADK Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter since the
early 80s and I've already served as the Chapter Treasurer for 8 years. I also have participated
in the Adopt-aLean-To program, with Jim 'Jungle' Mosher, taking care of Ward Brook Lean-to for
more than 30 years. We have always maintained the trail into Ward Brook Lean-to, so a couple of
years ago, I made it official and adopted the five miles of trail. I have been busy improving the
trail up Potash Mountain in Lake Luzerne the past few summers, as well as the new trail up
Swede Mountain. If you have never been up either, make it a point to put them on your hiking schedule.
I lead hikes regularly and do a lot of trail work with the 46's trail crew. I am retired now,
but I spent my career as the owner/operator of the Luzerne Market which has been operating for
43 years.